Roles of Cultural Communication and Cultural Competence in Caring for Patients from Another Culture

Abstract

Globalization and international migration have significantly increased cultural diversity worldwide, highlighting the critical importance of cultural communication and cultural competence among nurses to deliver equitable and effective nursing care across different cultural backgrounds. This thesis aims to determine the challenges, strategies, and impact of cultural communication and cultural competence in the provision of care in transcultural nursing.

A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted, utilizing intensive searches across scientific databases, including Academic Search Elite, CINAHL, and MEDLINE. Eight (8) peer-reviewed scientific articles were analyzed, leading to the identification of three (3) significant themes and eight (8) sub-themes.

The findings demonstrate that culturally competent care enhances patient satisfaction and reduces health disparities by addressing cultural values, beliefs, and practices. However, significant challenges arose, including language barriers, misinterpretation of cultural cues, and addressing religious and spiritual needs. Strategies such as experiential training, professional interpretation services, and continuing education were identified as crucial for fostering cultural competence among nurses.

Grounded in Madeleine Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality and Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, this study underscores the importance of cultural communication and cultural competence in delivering high-quality, inclusive nursing care across different cultural backgrounds.